The Complete Guide to Mosquito Prevention, Treatment and Control in Myanmar
Mosquitoes are an annoyance all over the world. They are tiny creatures with strong buzzing sounds that do not go by unnoticed. The main target of mosquitoes is the human species, though they love animals as well. Their bites cause itchiness, irritation and sometimes even infections. Want to know how to prevent, treat and control mosquitoes in Myanmar? Read on!
Types of mosquitoes
Various types of mosquitoes are active in Myanmar, including:
Aedes aegypti
Aedes albopitus
Culex quinquefasciatus
Anopheles maculatus
Anopheles sundaicus
Some of these species are not so common in Myanmar, or they rarely pose a threat to the public.
Aedes Mosquitoes
Aedes mosquitoes are active in urban and suburban areas. They have a characteristic black colour with white stripes across their body and legs. Aedes mosquitoes settle and breed in stagnant water.
Aedes Aegypti
The Aedes aegypti is an indoor species. They usually breed in cool and dark places.
Aedes Albopitus
Aedes albopitus mosquitoes instead breed in vegetation areas in the outdoors.
Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes
Culex and Anopheles mosquitoes are the most active during the night. Anopheles mosquitoes breed in brackish water (depending on the species). Culex mosquitoes breed in polluted water.
Signs of Mosquito Infestations
Mosquito infestations at home are found through - unsurprisingly - mosquito bites. Bites leave annoying and itchy spots on your skin. Mosquitoes also buzz around, another sign of the presence of a mosquito infestation.
Life Cycle and Biology
It takes Aedes mosquitoes a week to complete their life cycle from eggs to adults. Myanmar's climate offers an ideal breeding ground for mosquito growth.
Female mosquitoes lay 100-200 eggs at a time. She can do so about five times in her life. Under ideal circumstances, one female mosquito can lay up to a thousand eggs!
Also, Aedes mosquito eggs can survive up to 6 months in dry conditions, as they can resist dehydration. They then hatch once exposed to water.
Egg hatching is done in 2 to 3 days. The larvae go through four stages of development. In total it takes 4 to 5 days for larvae to grow and develop into pupae.
The pupae stage is a phase in which they do not feed. This phase lasts 1 to 2 days. During this time, they rest and wait for the next stage: becoming adult mosquitoes.
Medical Importance
Mosquitoes can carry several dangerous diseases, including:
Chikungunya
Zika
Japanese Encephalitis
Malaria
Dengue is one of the most severe diseases caused by mosquitoes in Myanmar.
Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopitus are the main types of Aedes mosquitoes transmitting dengue fever in Myanmar. Most commonly, the transmission starts when an Aedes mosquito bites a human being who is already infected with the Dengue virus. This is followed by an 8-12 day incubation period. The mosquito is then able to transmit the virus to other people. This transmission occurs through bites. The following incubation period for people is up to 10 days. That is when a person will start showing symptoms of Dengue.
Symptoms of Diseases
What are the symptoms of Dengue? In some cases, a person may not even have any symptoms. This is known as asymptomatic. In most cases, people will experience one or more of the following symptoms a few days after being bitten:
Recurring fever
Pain behind the eyes
Skin rash with red spots
Joint pain
Muscle pain
Bone pain
Severe headache
Dengue fever is not fatal (in most cases). However, it may turn into DHF, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever. If this happens, life-threatening complications may occur!
Symptoms of DHF include:
Diarrhoea
Vomiting
Severe abdominal pain
Uncontrolled bleeding
Convulsions
Bruising
In addition, DHF may lead to a high fever and Dengue Shock Syndrome.
7 Ways to Prevent Mosquito Bites
Myanmar's climate is ideal for mosquitoes. There is a year-round threat of Dengue in Myanmar. As of yet, there are no vaccinations to treat Dengue.
Thus, all our efforts need to be aimed at preventing Dengue in the first place. Here are 7 ways to prevent mosquito bites:
1 Insect repellents
The suggestion is to use insect repellents with high levels of DEET. DEET is proven to be effective at preventing mosquito bites. It is also safe to use.
2 Protective clothing
Mosquitoes can easily bite through thin materials such as tights. We suggest you wear thick and long-sleeve clothing.
3 Avoid mosquito primetime
Plan outdoor activities when mosquitoes are less active. It is best to avoid spending time outdoors during dusk and dawn.
4 Fans
Many people don't know that mosquitoes are poor fliers. They are fragile in windy weather. By using an electric fan, you are making life hard for mosquitoes.
5 Mosquito net
Use a mosquito net at night to keep mosquitoes out of reach.
6 Get rid of stagnant water
Mosquitoes are highly attracted to moist environments, as it offers a perfect breeding environment. Avoid stagnant waters outside your house, for example pet food, flowerpots, buckets and cans.
7 Keep your garden and home clean
Clean, clean, clean! Keep your indoor and outdoor spaces clean to prevent mosquitoes.
How to Prevent Mosquito Breeding In and Around your Home
Preventing mosquitoes in Myanmar can be very challenging. The climate offers an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. With basic preventive measures, though, is the best way to prevent Dengue in Myanmar.
5-step Mozzie Wipeout recommendations from the National Environment Agency:
Turn any unused pails
Regularly change the water in vases
Flip flowerpot plates
Loosen hardened soil in pots
Clear gutter from and place Bti (biological control)
10 ways to prevent Dengue in Myanmar:
Cover gully traps
Cover or remove open water residues
Remove water from dish rack trays
Cover bamboo pole holders
Keep the drains free from obstructions (leaves etc.)
Seal holes in trees using sand or cement to prevent stagnant water
Seal gaps using a silicone-based caulk
Remove receptacles to avoid the collection of rainwater
Repair leaks
For proper drainage, poke a small hole with a pin in leaf axils (between the leaves and the stem)
DIY methods
Many people use essentials oils to keep mosquitoes away from them. Essential oils are plant extractions. Examples include peppermint and lemongrass. These contain properties that mosquitoes dislike.
Having an insect screen is another simple DIY method to keep mosquitoes away. It is both a simple solution and free of chemicals.
Professional mosquito treatment
For longterm effects, more professional measures are recommended. There are various ways to prevent mosquitoes effectively, including:
Thermal fogging
Misting
Larviciding
IRS (Indoor Residual Spraying)
Thermal Fogging
Thermal fogging is a method to kill adult mosquitoes. This simple fogger does an excellent job of eliminating mosquitoes. The fogger contains a heating mixed solution with gasoline from the combustion chamber. Insecticides are pumped via a valve and are then injected into the nozzle or head. Next, the insecticide liquid vaporizes into hot gas.
The effect of thermal fogging is instant. However, this method will only kill mosquitoes that are active at the time of treatment.
Misting
Misting targets flying insects, including mosquitoes. It is a motor-driven ULV unit in which fine mist (insecticide) is sprayed into the air. The misting procedure leaves insecticide droplets and it creates a residual chemical effect. Once mosquitoes get in contact with the residual chemical effect, they will die.
Larviciding
Larviciding is a method to get rid of larvae. Various larvicides may be used, such as chemical insecticides, larvicidal oils, and biological larvicide such as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti).
IRS (Indoor Residual Spraying)
Recently, we started introducing the IRS method. Indoor Residual Spraying is a very effective and safe way to treat mosquito infestations indoors.
Conclusion
We all need to do our part in controlling and preventing mosquitoes in Myanmar. Though it is not an easy challenge, there are various ways to approach the mosquito problem as outlined in this article.
The key is early detection, which prevents further spread of mosquito infestations. With effort, knowledge and further research, mosquito populations can be kept under control.